Journaling Prompts to Help You Reflect on Your Days and Be More Productive

• 1. Write about the last thing you did well. This could be anything from completing an assignment, finishing dinner, completing a project at work, etc.
• 2. What does success feel like? Make sure to capture what success feels like. For example, do you get excited when getting good grades? When accomplishing a goal? When learning new skills?
• 3. Describe a perfect weekend. I think this will inspire you to make today count. Imagine spending Saturday and Sunday doing whatever you want because there isn’t much going on.
• 4. Think about how lucky you are to live where you live. It can be easy to forget all the amazing things you have in life when you start to complain about certain aspects.
• 5. Pick one habit that you would cut out of your life. If possible, choose something that only takes a few minutes each day.
• 6. Why do you hate Mondays? Do you find them stressful or unproductive? Perhaps you should look at why you dread coming into work every Monday morning. Ask yourself if you’re trying too hard to make yourself successful.
• 7. Choose two words to describe the future. Maybe you want to be rich, happy, healthy, wealthy, wise…anything really.
• 8. What’s something that doesn’t interest you? This is useful because if you’re not passionate about something, you’ll probably put less effort into it.
• 9. Write about someone who has made you cry recently. Try to avoid picking someone who hurts you emotionally. Instead pick people who bring you happiness. Also try not to dwell over their mistakes.
• 10. Who are you most proud of? Why? Is it someone who helped you reach a dream? Or maybe it was your parents or teachers who taught you valuable skills.
• 11. Take a note of any accomplishments, big or small. You may not realize how many little things add up to make something bigger.
• 12. How can you improve your social skills? What are some ways you can make friends easier? Are you shy or outgoing? Find out which works better for you and adopt those habits.
• 13. What makes you laugh? Laughing doesn’t just heal your body; it also heals your soul. There are so many times we wish we had more fun around us. We need to learn to enjoy ourselves more often.
• 14. Look back at your achievements. Try to notice the moments that were special. Did you ever accomplish something without realizing it? That is called “autotelic” achievement.
• 15. What are you grateful for? Don’t just list things you can use. Focus on the good things you don’t even know about.
• 16. Tell five things you love about yourself. These may sound silly but they actually help boost self esteem.
• 17. What were three events that shaped you as a person? Each experience teaches us different lessons. Pay attention to these events in your life so you’ll never forget them.
• 18. What do you admire about a colleague? Find someone whose personality resonates with yours. Admire their strengths, intelligence, and skills. Learn something their by observing him closely.
• 19. Look out at the world. Notice what kind of beauty surrounds you. Don’t take anything for granted. There’s always something new to see.
• 20. Spend time doing nothing. When you become bored, you usually fall asleep. So keep your mind active by reading, listening to music, watching TV, learning, etc.
• 21. Write down ten things you hope for the future. You might not think there will come days when you’re old, sick, lonely, or dead. But writing down these goals helps you prepare mentally for such hardships.
• 22. Make a list of things you dislike about yourself. Start from the beginning (the top of your head) to determine where you need to improve.
• 23. What would you change if you could? If you did change one thing, what would it be? List everything you’d like to go through in your life.
• 24. Describe an imaginary friend who’s been traveling alongside you this year. He’s learned a lot about you and he likes to share his wisdom whenever you feel lost.
• 25. Think of one person who inspires you. Maybe it’s a teacher. It could be somebody who does great work. It could be someone who lives well despite all the odds they face. What makes you inspired?
• 26. What qualities have made you stand out throughout school? Do you bring a positive attitude to every situation? Do people trust you? Does everyone listen to you?
• 27. What is your favorite quote? Whether or not you agree with what it says, find inspiration inside its words.
• 28. What was one goal you achieved that you thought would be impossible for you? Something about achieving that goal taught you to try harder and achieve other goals. Take note how far you’ve grown.
• 29. What was the best decision you’ve ever made? How did you react when you succeeded? Were you happy and proud of yourself? Or did you second guess yourself until later? Let the feeling pass away instead of holding onto it.
• 30. What is the most important lesson you’ve learned? You grow through struggle. If you accept challenges then eventually you’ll surpass obstacles.
• 31. What is the greatest gift you’ve received? Did you receive it freely? Or did someone else give you the gift before you earned it? Appreciate both versions.
• 32. In the coming year, what will you try hardest to achieve? What are some lofty dreams you can make happen? Do remember, though, not every dream needs to materialize into reality. Some just need to be imagined and cherished.
• 33. Imagine yourself as a better version of yourself. Would you still want to hang around with the old version? Is there anyone you’d rather spend more time with?
• 34. What are two ways you’ll improve your self-esteem? Do something nice for you; don’t expect others to do the same for you. If you appreciate yourself, you’ll attract good people They’ll see you as a valuable individual.
• 35. Describe a perfect day. Go on and describe what you’d love to accomplish. What sounds would accompany your daily activities? Who would you wish to be near?
• 36. What makes you procrastinate? Are you trying to avoid doing something you really want to do?
• 37. Write down five ways you can save time. For example, maybe you can take advantage of free resources. Or maybe you can cut down on unnecessary trips to the store.
• 38. What is your biggest personal weakness? That might mean you could study more, or ask for help occasionally. Sometimes admitting your own shortcomings can be difficult, but knowing them helps us learn from ourselves.
• 39. What do you think is a waste of time? Maybe it’s spending too much money on things that aren’t actually worth it. Maybe you waste time by being lazy. Find solutions to the problems you see wasting time in your life.
• 40. What are three things that help you stay focused? Perhaps you need a regular schedule, or perhaps you need to be committed to a job or task. Whatever works for you, stick to it.
• 41. What is your biggest fear? Has anything ever happened that scared you so bad you became paralyzed? It happens to everyone at times. When those moments arise, remind yourself that you’re not alone.
• 42. How do you manage stress? Does stress affect your health negatively? Sometimes it’s better to learn how to cope with stress than to put off dealing with it. Learn relaxation techniques, or find a support group.
• 43. What does “success” look like to you? Is success making money? Or maybe it is having peace of mind. Try to define it in your terms.
• 44. What would you like to have control over in your lifetime? Maybe it’s your education, career, family, relationships, or friendships. What can you control today? Think about areas where you can work towards improvement.
• 45. What is your greatest dream? Perhaps you want to write books, become an artist, sing well, or travel the world. Make sure to keep dreaming big. As long as you never stop believing, you can definitely make it happen!
• 46. Which one person has most influenced you throughout your life? Why was this person influential? Did he/she teach you a lot about yourself? About life? A mentor. A teacher or coach. An older sibling. Someone who played sports or taught you lessons about teamwork.
• 47. What would you change if you had the chance? You can’t always change what’s going on around you, but you can choose the way you respond to circumstances. Change your perspective from reactive to proactive.
• 48. Do you believe in destiny? If so, why? Destiny doesn’t mean “fate,” it means we have opportunities available to us. We don’t live under the illusion that everything happens according to plan, we just hope our plans will lead us to good outcomes.
• 49. What makes you feel alive? Do you feel alive when you’re learning new things, experiencing new experiences, and growing spiritually?
• 50. What keeps you inspired? Some people have inspiration struck, some have purpose. Either way, inspire others along the way.
• 51. Whose behavior drives you crazy? You’re probably human enough to understand that there are other people in this world besides you. But sometimes when you try to improve yourself, you notice that certain behaviors drive you nuts.
• 52. What did you wish someone said to you? You may have wished that someone told you something different, or you might have been confused because they didn’t say anything at all.
• 53. What advice would you give to yourself five years ago?
• 54. Who inspires you? Can you share about them? Whether famous or lesser known individuals, positive influences inspire us to want to achieve great things.
• 55. What does “home” mean to you? Home is more than just a physical location; it’s a state of being. It represents security, safety, belonging, nurturing, acceptance, love, happiness, and contentment.
• 56. What do you think defines you? Are you happy with all aspects of yourself? Would you trade parts of your personality for another part?
• 57. Do you have any goals for your future? Are these realistic? Have you thought about what would make you happiest? If you were given the opportunity to do anything right now, what would be your first choice? The best day ever?
• 58. How important is money to you? Money isn’t everything, but you should recognize its value. Sometimes having financial stability allows you to accomplish more in other ways.
• 59. What do you think will happen in the next ten years? Things could go up or down, but it’s really hard to predict the future. We can only guess and hope.
• 60. What do you think needs improvement in the world? Many people talk about how unfair the world is and how much harm it causes. They’d like to see better treatment for those less fortunate. Others just care about their own problems.
• 61. If you knew you couldn’t fail, what would you do? Don’t count on it! Failure is an experience you’ll never forget. Even if you try and succeed eventually, you won’t know where you’ve learned the most until after it’s too late to use it.
• 62. What does productivity mean to you? Is it making more progress toward meaningful goals? Or is it simply getting stuff done?
• 63. How would you handle rejection? Rejection hurts. It shows that you aren’t valued by the people who matter to you most. But you can always choose not to let rejection influence you.
• 64. What is your biggest concern today? What keeps you awake at night? Often the fears we hold in check seem
• 65. Do you enjoy making personal connections? If not, why? Personal connections help create a sense of community around you.
• 66. What’s one thing you wouldn’t compromise on? Compromise seems like a reasonable option in many situations, but I can’t imagine compromising on character.
• 67. Where do you turn for support? In life, relationships become essential. People come together to build their strengths as well as strengthen their weaknesses. This gives them mutual respect and trust.
• 68. Why do we struggle so much with change? Change doesn’t come naturally to everyone. And sometimes we resist change when we need to adapt.
• 69. Can you accept being imperfect? Imperfection is part of life. Everyone has flaws they work hard to control. To me, being perfect is unattainable and unreasonable. Instead, I’m working to be the person I want to be.
• 70. When did you last feel happy? Happiness comes from doing good things for others and living out values that make you proud.
• 71. What are you passionate about? Passion can take many forms. Some people love sports, music, theater, reading, or certain kinds of food. For some people, passion is a way of life – whether it’s playing video games, studying philosophy, solving math equations, or volunteering.
• 72. What do you admire? People who live their lives based on selfless principles. These people inspire us because they show us what we’re capable of.
• 73. Do you plan ahead? Planning for the future helps assure success for the present. You can’t be stuck looking back all the time.
• 74. Do you believe in luck? I think luck may have something to do with our circumstances. However, fortune favors those who expect it. So don’t wait for luck – prepare yourself and give up excuses!
• 75. How could you improve confidence? Confidence comes from doing things that make us feel strong and secure. Sometimes confidence builds slowly. Other times it grows quickly, especially when we face challenges.
• 76. Do you believe in purpose? Purpose means having a reason for existing. We often find purpose through our families, friends and organizations.
• 77. Do you enjoy taking risks? Risking failure is different than failing. Failing might kill our dreams and damage our reputations. Taking a chance teaches us valuable lessons.
• 78. What do you appreciate most about yourself? Something special about myself? I appreciate my intelligence, compassion, kindness, family values, drive, creativity, commitment, curiosity, perseverance, honesty, loyalty, tenacity & humor.
• 79. What’s the first thought that goes through your mind when you wake up? A little prayer said before stepping into the world.
• 80. Do you prefer solitude? Solitude is an opportunity to get alone with God. It can also lead to deep thinking.
• 81. Who would you save if there were an emergency? If someone asked me this question, I’d say “everyone.” That includes animals, plants, and every living thing. They are all connected to each other through our air, water and soil.
• 82. What makes you laugh? Humor is contagious. Someone else laughing at their own mistakes is the best medicine. Laughter strengthens relationships.
• 83. What are you grateful for today? I am grateful for everything I’ve accomplished since childhood. I know I’ll never stop learning new things.
• 84. What should you avoid? Avoiding danger only creates more problems and frustration later down the road.
• 85. Are you satisfied with where you are in life? Life isn’t always easy. But by being content, we can face life as it happens without anxiety or fear.
• 86. What are your deepest thoughts right now? Deep thoughts are like bubbles in a pond. As long as they stay under the surface, they remain hidden. Only upon bursting will they reveal themselves.
• 87. Why do you smile? Smiling promotes happiness, which leads to joy, which is free from worry. Smiling can change how people see us, making them want to become closer friends.
• 88. When was the last time you felt truly alive and engaged? Feeling alive may come from seeing new places. Engaging in social activities (such as attending lectures or playing games) gives our lives meaning.
• 89. How does an ordinary day inspire you? Inspiration comes from unexpected ideas, plans, or discoveries. Every day has its own unique set of opportunities to fulfill our potential.
• 91. What’s the hardest part of your job?
• 92. How did you spend your day off? Off days aren’t just relaxing time. Sometimes it takes some serious soul searching to make changes needed for growth in our personal lives and careers.
• 93. What motivates you most?
• 94. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? In my leisure time, I love reading fiction books, poetry, and watching movies that teach important life lessons.
• 95. What are your greatest fears? Fear keeps us from trying new things. The unknown holds no terror; rather, fear hides behind the known.
• 96. What can be better than working hard? Hard work is essential to success. It may take years to achieve, but results are undeniable.
• 97. What are your goals? Goals shape the future path of our lives. There is nothing wrong with setting small goals to ensure progress toward bigger ones.
• 98. What are you looking forward to? Looking forward means planning with optimism for what lies ahead. We don’t control the future, so we might as well plan for it positively.
• 99. What kind of person are you? Our personalities consist of many characteristics and traits. Some aspects of ourselves are positive; others aren’t exactly shining examples.
• 100. What has helped you cope with stress? Stressing out about something we cannot change is called negative self-talk. Acknowledging negativity as a limiting belief allows us to grow beyond it.

Conclusion

I hope that this daily habit of reflective writing has helped you to increase your productivity levels, as well as helping you to remove some bad habits that you may have in your daily life.

Best of luck!